Research Programme in Social Sciences with Switzerland

Faculty
Exchange Programme (FEP)

CALL
2012

Opening date: 22 October 2012

Closing date: 30 November 2012

Description

The Faculty
Exchange Programme (FEP) is designed to encourage the dialogue between Indian
and Swiss scholars (faculty members and research staff) in social sciences,
in order to intensify interaction between Swiss and Indian social scientists
and institutions and to promote sustainable bilateral collaboration.

FEP grants are designed to fund travel and
living expenses for exchanges of researchers between India and Switzerland.
Other project-related costs may be funded as well.

The FEP grants can include up to two
researchers and social scientists from each side. In addition, PhD students
can take part to the project if connected to the Indian applicant or to the
Swiss partner.

Priority Research Areas

The social sciences are taken at a large
sense with a priority to:

a.Governance and policy,

b.Sustainable urban development and land use,

c.Democracy,

d.Inclusive growth, green economy, economic
growth and development,

e.Public health and well-being,

f.Food security,

g.Population, ageing and migration,

h.Higher education development, science and
innovation policies.

Not limited to
Indian or Swiss issues exclusively.

Goals

To initiate or intensify longstanding research
and teaching collaboration between Swiss and Indian social scientists in
areas not covered by the Indo-Swiss Joint Research Programme.

Project Duration

Up to 24
months (total of 6 visits per project duration with a max. of 3 participants
from each side, 2 faculty and 1 PhD).

Eligibility

The applicant must hold a Ph.D. and/or a
senior permanent position in an university/institution located in India

Applications will be accepted only from an
Indian citizen or an Indian permanent resident. Additionally to the
Applicant, the FEP project may include one additional researcher and one PhD
student or postdoctoral social scientist on the Indian and the Swiss sides.
The total number of participants on each side should not exceed three.

Each applicant can submit maximum one application.

The Indian applicant and the Swiss partner
must prepare the application jointly.

Funding

Indian funds will be provided covering travel
cost related to the visit of Indian researchers to Switzerland and also
living expenses for Swiss visitors in India.The matching funding will be provided from the Swiss side.

Grant Information

Travel and subsistence costs for India
researchers/PhD. students going to Switzerland and living costs for Swiss
researchers/PhD. students in India can be requested for a maximum of 6 visits
from each side spread over the project duration of 2 years. Other
project-related costs such as field survey costs may be requested as well.

Number and duration of the visits:

·Visits of up to 2 months max. for senior
social scientists and visits of up to 6 months max. for young social
scientists (PhD, post doctoral students) will be supported.

·The visits should be reciprocal and balanced
in number and duration between Switzerland and India.

Completed applications must be submitted not
later than 30 November 2012. Late and incomplete applications will not be
accepted.

It is intended to announce the results of this
call in December 2012.

Evaluation and Selection

Joint applications will be evaluated by a
panel of experts proposed by the Advisory Committee members.

Evaluation criteria: (not
listed in the order of priority)

1.Funding reciprocity: projects with matching
funds will be preferred

2.Scientific merit of the proposed activities
and of the anticipated outcomes

3.Benefits of the proposed activities for the
establishment of sustainable research partnerships and institutional links
between Indian and Swiss institutions

4.Added value of the visits for ongoing research
and teaching where applicable, on both sides

5.Potential for follow-on collaborative
activities

6.Expertise and complementarities of the two
partners

7.Feasibility of proposed approach

8.Qualifications and experience of applicants

The applicant will be notified by the ICSSR,
New Delhi. The results are intended to be announced in December 2012.

Reporting

Grant
recipients will have to submit a progress and financial report after each
year of the project or if the project is of shorter duration, at the latest
two months after the end of the grant period.